Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OB-SCURE, a. [L. obscurus; It. oscuro.]

1. Dark; destitute of light. Whoso curseth his father or mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Prov. xx.
2. Living in darkness; as, the obscure bird. Shak.
3. Not easily understood; not obviously intelligible; abstruse; as, an obscure passage in a writing. Dryden.
4. Not much known or observed; retired; remote from observation; as, an obscure retreat.
5. Not noted; unknown; unnoticed; humble; mean; as; an obscure person; a person of obscure birth. Atterbury.
6. Not easily legible; as, an obscure inscription.
7. Not clear, full or distinct; imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects.